Swing.



P. H. REGAN.

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A? LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1.

P. HFREGAN.

SWING.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24, m1.

Patented May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK I-I. REGAN, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SWING.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK H. REGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to swings adapted to afford amusement and healthful exercise, to which end the apparatus comprises, a frame to which is suspended a swing body, preferably provided with multiple cross seats for the occupants and means, in the form of oars or sweeps, fulcrumed or pivoted on the swing body and having a sliding abutment or engagement with the supporting frame, whereby, when the occupants pull on the oars, in simulation of rowing a boat, each of the oars operating upon a constantly shifting fulcrum on the frame as it moves transversely of the abutment the swing body is moved, the extent of motion of the swing body being regulated by the length of the oar stroke.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the swing, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a larger swing, Fig. 3 is a detail showing the means for suspending the swing body in the supporting frame, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a simple construction of pivotal support and stop for the operating sweeps or oars.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the supporting frame of the swing, which frame comprises four inclined corner posts or supports 2 which are connected at the top by framework 3, preferably strengthened by suitable diagonal braces 3, and at the bottom by a rectangular frame 5 having corner braces 5. On each side of the main frame 1 is a horizontal rail 7, between which and the corresponding head rail 3 are rigidly secured multiple abutment posts 6, corresponding in number to the sweeps or oars on each side. Secured to each post (3 is a guide 8, conveniently formed as a metal eye or yoke let into the body of the post and extending toward the end of the swing.

The swing body preferably comprises a slatted platform 10, which is suspended from frame 1 by means of rigid hanger Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 24, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 640,186.

bars 11, journaled on cross rods 13 mounted between the upper ends of opposite corner posts 2, the lower ends of said bars 11 being connected to platform 10 by cross rods 12, said rods 12 and 13 being held in position by nuts and washers 12 and 13. The eyes in the ends of bars 11, through which rods 12 and 13 pass, are preferably provided with metallic bushings or thimbles, as indicated at 15 in Fig. 3, to prevent wear on the parts and to provide smooth and easily lubricated bearings. This arrangement for suspending the movable platform 10 prevents lateral or torsional movement thereof when loaded in case the power which moves the platform is unequally or irregularly applied, as is apt to occur by reason of unequal forces being applied to the sweeps; and it also enhances the freedom of movement, and the durability of the swing under the severe and constant usage to which this class of devices is subjected.

Secured to the platform 10 are transverse seats varying in number according to the size and capacity of the swing. In the forms illustrated there are two end seats 20 for passengers or non-operating occupants and two or more intermediate seats 21 for the operators or rowers. The operators or rowers seats should be rigidly connected with platform 10 so as to be immovable with relation thereto. It is apparent of course that the number of seats may be varied, for example the swing shown in Fig. 1 has two rowers seats while that shown in Fig. 2 has three rowers seats. It will also be apparent that the supporting frame and the swing body may be made of wood, or metal, or any desired combination of these materials, and that each seat may be constructed to hold one or more occupants as desired.

Secured to the platform 10, and preferably to the adjacent seats 21 also, are vertical posts 22, disposed in equal numbers on opposite sides of said platform, each post serving as a support for a sweep or oar 30, which is attached to its post by a vertical pivot pin 21- mounted on the top of the post and passing through an eye in the body of the oar. As shown in Fig. 41 the top of each post 22 is provided with a metal cap 23 containing the pivot post 241 and a vertical stop lug 25 to limit the extent of movement of the sweep.

Each sweep or oar is provided with a suitoccupying a seat 21.

able handle 31 to be grasped by an operator The outboard end of each oar or sweep lies in sliding engagement with the edge of the adjacent abutment post 6 of the frame 1 and each sweep is maintained in proper operative position at all times by the guide yoke 8 secured to the corresponding post 6. The outer end of each sweep is provided with a laterally extended head 32 to prevent the disengagement of the sweep and its guide and also to prevent the swing body being shoved too far in either direction.

To operate the apparatus, the seats 21 are occupied by the operators each of whom grasps either one or a pair of the adjacent sweeps or oars by the handle or handles and pulls precisely as in rowing a boat. As the handle end of the sweep is drawn toward the body of the operator the sweep swings on its pivot pin 24: mounted on post 22 fast to platform 10, and the outboard portion of the sweep engages its abutment/post 6, which has the eifect of moving the swing body in the direction of the pull. As the swing body moves, the body of the sweep moves longitudinally through the yoke 8 and over the edge of post 6, thereby shifting the fulcrum point along the sweeptoward its end until the end of the stroke is reached, the extreme limit being determined by the stop 25 on post 22 and the head 32 on the outer end of the sweep, the first mentioned engaging the body of the sweep and the latter striking the edge of post 6 or guide yoke 8. As the operator swings his body forward on the return, the sweep moves idly through guide 8, or if desired the sweep may be forced against the curved end of the yoke with force sufficient to accelerate the movement of the swing body in the opposite direction.

In Fig. 1 the arrangement is such that the operators face in opposite directions and pull alternately, while in the form shown in Fig. 2 all of the operators face in the same direction so that they. pull together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters.

to the platform, said sweeps having supports on the platform, and abutments for.

the sweeps.

2. In a swing, the combination of a supporting frame, a movable platform having seats thereon, rigid hanger bars for suspend- .ing the platform, said hanger bars having eyes provided with bushings, cross rods on the frame and on the platform on which rods the rigid hanger bars are journaled, sweeps for imparting motion to the platform, said sweeps having supports on the platform, and abutments for the sweeps.

3. In a swing, the combination of a supporting frame, a movable platform, rigid hanger bars for suspending the platform, said hanger bars journaled on the supporting frame and on the platform, sweeps having supports on the platform for imparting motion to the platform, and abutments for the sweeps, the sweeps and the sweep sup ports being provided with stops to limit the movement of the sweeps and the platform. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' PATRICK I-I. REGAN.

itnesses FRANK A. SMITH,

MCCORMAOK.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C." 

